U.S. patent application number 13/364918 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-09 for control device for vehicle electric drive motor and vehicle with the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hitachi, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Takao KOJIMA, Atsushi YOKOYAMA.
Application Number | 20120200241 13/364918 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46585533 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120200241 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KOJIMA; Takao ; et
al. |
August 9, 2012 |
Control Device for Vehicle Electric Drive Motor and Vehicle With
the Same
Abstract
A controller for vector-controlled motor of vehicle judges
whether a battery needs to be warmed up in accordance with an
output of a battery temperature sensor, and when the battery needs
to be warmed up, in situation (i) where the vehicle is stopped,
sets a q-axis current value of the motor at zero, or when a brake
is released from the situation (i), sets a q-axis current at a
value corresponding to a drive torque for a vehicle creep
operation, and sets a d-axis current at a value for battery
warm-up. When the battery needs to be warmed up in situation (ii)
where the vehicle is running, the controller sets a q-axis current
at a value corresponding to a drive torque of vehicle running and
sets a d-axis current at a value for the battery warm-up in
relation to the q-axis current value.
Inventors: |
KOJIMA; Takao; (Hitachinaka,
JP) ; YOKOYAMA; Atsushi; (Hitachiota, JP) |
Assignee: |
Hitachi, Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
46585533 |
Appl. No.: |
13/364918 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
318/139 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02P 21/06 20130101;
Y02T 10/705 20130101; B60L 58/27 20190201; Y02T 10/643 20130101;
Y02T 10/64 20130101; B60L 58/25 20190201; Y02T 10/7005 20130101;
B60L 2240/545 20130101; Y02T 10/70 20130101; B60L 15/025
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
318/139 |
International
Class: |
H02P 21/00 20060101
H02P021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 4, 2011 |
JP |
2011-022919 |
Claims
1. A vehicle electric drive motor-control device for executing
vector control of an electric drive motor for vehicle, the control
device comprising: a controller that generates a motor drive signal
of vector control for the motor in accordance with a required drive
torque; and an inverter that controls electrical power supplied
from a battery as an electrical power source to the motor in
accordance with the motor drive signal; wherein the controller is
configured to judge whether the battery needs to be warmed up in
accordance with an output of a battery temperature sensor that
senses a temperature of the battery, and when judging that the
battery needs to be warmed up, in situation (i) where the vehicle
is stopped, set a q-axis current value for vector control of the
motor at zero, or when a brake is released from such a situation
(i), set a q-axis current at a value corresponding to a drive
torque required to do a vehicle creep operation, and additionally
set a d-axis current at a value required to do a battery warm-up
operation; the controller further is configured to, when the
battery needs to be warmed up in situation (ii) where the vehicle
is running, set a q-axis current at a value corresponding to a
drive torque required to do a vehicle running operation and
additionally set a d-axis current at a value of promoting the
battery warm-up operation in relation to the q-axis current value;
and wherein, in said situations (i) and (ii), the controller is
configured to perform setup so that the d-axis current value
increases with a decrease in the battery temperature.
2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller
is configured to, when judging that the battery needs to be warmed
up, setup so that the d-axis current value increases with a
decrease in the battery temperature, and decreases with an increase
in the q-axis current value due to an increase in the required
drive torque.
3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the q-axis
current value and the d-axis current value are preset in a table in
correspondence with the required drive torque and the battery
temperature.
4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein, the controller
is configured, when judging that the battery needs to be warmed up,
to calculate a required heat amount required for battery warm-up in
accordance with the output of the battery temperature sensor,
calculate an estimated self-heating amount of the battery in
accordance with a motor power feed amount based on the required
drive torque of the motor, and increase in accordance with a
difference between the required heat amount and the estimated
self-heating amount when the required heat amount is larger than
the estimated self-heating amount.
5. A vehicle comprising: a vector-controlled electric drive motor;
a battery that serves as an electrical power source for the drive
motor; a battery temperature sensor that senses the temperature of
the battery; and the vehicle electric drive motor-control device
described in claim 1.
6. A vehicle comprising: a vector-controlled electric drive motor
for vehicle; a battery to be an electrical power source for the
drive motor; a controller that generates a motor drive signal
required for vector control of the motor in accordance with a
required drive torque for the vehicle; an inverter that controls
electrical power supplied from the battery to the motor in
accordance with the motor drive signal; a battery temperature
sensor that senses the temperature of the battery, and a heat
supplier that supplies heat generated at either or both of the
drive motor and the inverter to the battery; wherein the controller
is configured to set a q-axis current value and a d-axis current
value for the vector control in accordance with the required drive
torque of the motor, and when judging that the battery needs to be
warmed up from an output of the battery temperature sensor,
calculate a heat amount required for battery warm-up in accordance
with the output of the battery temperature sensor, calculate an
estimated self-heating amount of the battery in accordance with a
motor power feed amount based on the required drive torque of the
motor, and calculate a heat supply amount indicative of the amount
of heat supplied to the battery by the heat supplier, and
furthermore, the controller is configured to, when the required
heat amount for the warm-up of the battery is greater than a sum of
the estimated self-heating amount and the heat supply amount,
correct so as to increase the d-axis current value for vector
control in accordance with a magnitude of a difference between the
required heat amount and the sum of the estimated self-heating
amount and the heat supply amount.
7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle is an
electric vehicle, and the controller is configured to take in
braking information and stop information as to the electric vehicle
to be controlled, judge whether the vehicle is in a stop state with
a brake applied, and when judging that the vehicle is stopped with
the brake applied, not only set a q-axis current value
corresponding to a drive torque for allowing the vehicle to creep
operation with assumption that the brake is released while the
battery is in need of warm-up, but also correct the d-axis current
value.
8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the controller is
further configured, when the temperature of the heat supplier is
equal to or greater than a predetermined value, not to correct the
d-axis current value.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese
application serial no. 201122919, filed on Feb. 4, 2011, the
content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this
application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a control device for
vehicle electric drive motor and a vehicle with the same (e.g.,
electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle). More specifically, the present
invention relates to a motor control device for controlling
electrical power supplied from a battery to a vector-controlled
drive motor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is conventionally known that a chargeable and
dischargeable secondary battery (hereinafter referred to as the
battery) is used as a motor power supply for electric vehicle and
hybrid vehicle which use an electric drive motor as a vehicle drive
source. Decrease of temperature in the battery deteriorates its
charge-discharge characteristics. Therefore, it is preferable to
warm up the battery when a vehicle is in a cold start state,
namely, when the vehicle is restarted after long hours of rest at a
place where outdoor temperature is low, for instance, in winter or
in cold climates.
[0004] As a prior art for battery warm-up, for example in a hybrid
vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an electric drive
motor as vehicle drive sources, JP 2001197607A (Patent Document 1)
discloses that, when the battery is required to be warmed up, the
warm-up for the battery is executed by feeding a motor driving
current (a so-called d-axis current or magnetic flux component
current) through the electric drive motor in only d-axis by using
vector control of an electric drive motor-control device. The
d-axis current is a current flowing in a direction of strengthening
a magnetic flux of a permanent magnet of a motor rotor. In other
words, according to such a technique, electrical power of the
battery is consumed without rotating the electric drive motor and
thereby can warm up the battery by allowing the battery to
discharge for heat generation purposes. The prior art is to be used
for only hybrid vehicle which has the two of an electric drive
motor and an internal combustion engine as drive sources of the
vehicle and is capable of running by at least one of these two
drive sources. That is, in the prior art, the battery is warmed up
by feeding the d-axis current for vector control through the
electric drive motor, while the internal combustion engine is
warmed up by its own power, and thereby a vehicle driving with the
internal combustion engine warm-up and the battery warm-up are
performed at the same time.
[0005] Meanwhile, the battery warm-up operation (cold start
operation) described in Patent Document 1 is not applicable for
so-called electric vehicles which uses only an electric drive motor
as a vehicle drive source. The reason is that Patent document 1 is
predicated on using the two of the internal combustion engine
operation by itself and the battery warm-up operation by feeding
the d-axis current for the electric drive motor during a cold start
of vehicle. More in detail, if adopting the technology of Patent
Document 1 to the electric vehicle, only the d-axis current for
vector control is since fed through the electric drive motor during
a cold start operation (in a situation where battery warm-up is
required), it is difficult to perform both the vehicle driving mode
and the battery warm-up mode by using the electric motor at the
same time. Namely, if adopting the technology of Patent Document 1
to the electric vehicle, the battery warm-up technology is
applicable to a situation where the vehicle is stopped, but, in a
driving mode (in a mode in which a required drive torque for the
motor is generated through an accelerator) at a vehicle cold start,
required is since a q-axis current (torque component current), it
is difficult to make a situation of using only the d-axis current
for the battery warm-up operation. On the other hand, when
considering as to the hybrid vehicle, the vehicle is driven
exclusively by the internal combustion engine during the battery
warm-up operation while only the d-axis current is fed to the
electric drive motor (the q-axis current is zero so that the drive
motor does not rotate). Consequently, from the view-point of
environmental considerations such as emissions reduction, the
hybrid vehicle does not make full use of its abilities.
[0006] The present invention is invented in view of the above
circumstances, and its object is to provide a control device for
vehicle electric drive motor capable of addressing the
above-described matters thereby to realize a speedup of battery
warm-up and take the environmental considerations into account
regardless of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The present
invention also is to provide a vehicle with such a control device
for an electric motor as vehicle drive motor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] To realize the abovementioned object, the present invention
basically provides the following control device for vehicle
electric drive motor and vehicle (e.g., electric vehicle or hybrid
vehicle) with the control device.
[0008] (1) The control device for vehicle electric drive motor is
used for vector control of a vehicle electric drive motor.
[0009] The control device comprises a controller that generates a
motor drive signal of vector control for the motor in accordance
with a required drive torque, and an inverter that controls
electrical power supplied from a battery as an electrical power
source to the motor in accordance with the motor drive signal. The
controller is configured to judge whether the battery needs to be
warmed up in accordance with an output of a battery temperature
sensor that senses a temperature of the battery, and when judging
that the battery needs to be warmed up, in situation (i) where the
vehicle is stopped, set a q-axis current value for vector control
of the motor at zero, or when a brake is released from such a
situation (1), set a q-axis current at a value corresponding to a
drive torque required to do a vehicle creep operation, and
additionally set a d-axis current at a value required to do a
battery warm-up operation. On the other hand, when the battery
needs to be warmed up in situation (ii) where the vehicle is
running, the controller is configured to set a q-axis current at a
value corresponding to a drive torque required to do a vehicle
running operation and additionally set a d-axis current at a value
of promoting the battery warm-up operation in relation to the
q-axis current value. In situations (i) and (ii), the controller
performs setup so that the d-axis current value increases with a
decrease in the battery temperature.
[0010] (2) Optionally, when the controller judges that the battery
needs to be warmed up, it is preferable that the controller is
configured to setup so that the d-axis current value increases with
a decrease in the battery temperature, and decreases with an
increase in the q-axis current value due to an increase in the
required drive torque.
[0011] (3) The q-axis current value and the d-axis current value
may be preset in a table in correspondence with the required drive
torque and the battery temperature, or may be set so as to increase
in accordance with a difference between a required heat amount and
an estimated self-heating amount when the required heat amount is
larger than the estimated self-heating amount. Here, the required
heat amount required for battery warm-up may be calculated by the
controller in accordance with the output of the battery temperature
sensor, and the estimated self-heating amount of the battery may be
calculated by the controller in accordance with a motor power feed
amount based on the required drive torque of the motor.
[0012] (4) According to another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vehicle that includes the control device
described in (1) above or a vehicle that includes at least one of
features described in (2) and (3) above in addition to a feature
described in (1) above.
[0013] According to still another aspect of the present invention,
the following vehicle is also provided. That is, a vehicle
comprises a vector-controlled electric drive motor for vehicle, a
battery to be an electrical power source for the drive motor, a
controller that generates a motor drive signal required for vector
control of the motor in accordance with a required drive torque for
the vehicle, an inverter that controls electrical power supplied
from the battery to the motor in accordance with the motor drive
signal, a battery temperature sensor that senses the temperature of
the battery, and a heat supplier that supplies heat generated at
either or both of the drive motor and the inverter to the battery.
Furthermore, the controller is configured to set a q-axis current
value and a d-axis current value for the vector control in
accordance with the required drive torque of the motor. Still
furthermore, the controller is configured to, when judging that the
battery needs to be warmed up from an output of the battery
temperature sensor, calculate a heat amount required for battery
warm-up in accordance with the output of the battery temperature
sensor, calculate an estimated self-heating amount of the battery
in accordance with a motor power feed amount based on the required
drive torque of the motor, and calculate a heat supply amount
indicative of the amount of heat supplied to the battery by the
heat supplier. Still furthermore, the controller is configured to,
when the required heat amount for the warm-up of the battery is
greater than a sum of the estimated self-heating amount and the
heat supply amount, correct so as to increase the d-axis current
value for vector control in accordance with a magnitude of a
difference between the required heat amount and the sum of the
estimated self-heating amount and the heat supply amount.
[0014] According to the present invention, for example in a case of
that the vehicle to be controlled is an electric vehicle, and in a
situation where the battery warm-up is required for a cold start of
the vehicle, the q-axis current value for vector control that is
required for vehicle running (based on the required drive torque of
the motor) is set while the d-axis current value is set so as to
increase with a decrease in the battery temperature. Therefore, the
battery warm-up can be speeded up no matter whether the electric
vehicle is stopped or running. On the other hand, when the present
invention is applied to a hybrid vehicle, the vehicle can run by
using the electric drive motor instead of the internal combustion
engine no matter whether a battery warm-up mode is selected, and
permits the above-described battery warm-up. Thus, the present
invention makes it possible to provide a motor control device and a
vehicle that properly take the environmental considerations into
account no matter whether an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle
is to be controlled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of
a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is an overall flowchart illustrating a battery
warm-up operation according to the first embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a current correction
process for the battery warm-up operation according to the first
embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a d-axis current and q-axis
current for vector control, which are set in a current correction
process according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 5 is diagram illustrating a table derived from the
graph shown in FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of
a second embodiment of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a current correction
process for the battery warm-up operation according to a third
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle with a
motor control device according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. As an example, an electric vehicle having a vehicle
electric drive motor 10 as a drive source is shown in this
schematic diagram.
[0024] The vehicle according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.
1 includes three ECUs (electronic control units): a battery ECU 21,
a motor ECU (motor control device) 12 for controlling the drive
motor 10, and a vehicle ECU 30 for providing overall control of the
vehicle. The battery ECU 21 calculates a state of charge (SOC)
based on a voltage across a battery 20 to be a vehicle power
source, a charge-discharge current, and an integrated
charge-discharge current, and acquires a battery temperature sensed
by a battery temperature sensor 22. Thereby, the battery ECU 21
manages the charge-discharge current and other properties of the
battery 20. Further, the battery ECU 21 outputs the SOC and other
information about the battery 20 to another electronic control
unit, such as the vehicle ECU 30, through a vehicle network 3.
Moreover, the battery ECU 21 outputs an actuation signal to a
battery blower fan 23 in accordance with the temperature of the
battery.
[0025] The vehicle ECU 30 generates a motor control signal (a drive
torque command, that is, a required drive torque), which is related
to vehicle braking or vehicle driving, based on information
acquired through the vehicle network 3 and signals supplied from an
outside air temperature sensor 40, an accelerator pedal sensor 13,
a brake pedal sensor 14, and a wheel speed sensor 15, which are
connected to the vehicle ECU 30. The motor control signal generated
by the vehicle ECU 30 is output to the motor ECU 12 through the
vehicle network 3.
[0026] In accordance with a drive torque command from the vehicle
ECU 30, the motor ECU 12 determines a voltage to be applied to the
drive motor 10. For example, when a motor control signal generated
as the drive torque command (the required drive torque) is input
into the motor ECU 12, the motor ECU 12 calculates a q-axis current
value for vector control of the motor in accordance with the
required drive torque and a d-axis current value based on necessity
(the d-axis current value demanded during a later-described battery
warm-up operation), and calculates a voltage to be applied across
the drive motor 10 from the d-axis and q-axis current. The motor
ECU 12 outputs a pulse signal (PWM: pulse width modulation signal,
that is, a motor drive signal), which is corresponding to the
voltage to be applied across the drive motor 10, to an inverter 11.
In general, a current controller (rotating frame), a rotating
frame-to-rest frame converter or the like is used to convert the
d-axis and q-axis current values to the pulse signals (PWM signals)
to be applied to the inverter. Here, explanation as to such a
conversion is not mitted because it is a well-known technology.
[0027] In accordance with the pulse width modulation signal (motor
drive signal) input from the motor ECU 12, the inverter 11 converts
a DC output of the battery 20 to a three-phase AC output and
supplies the three-phase AC output to the drive motor 10. More
specifically, the inverter 11 controls the electrical power
supplied from the battery 20 as a power source to the drive motor
10 in accordance with the motor drive signal. In this manner, the
drive motor 10 can generate a driving force (torque) required for
vehicle drive. The driving force of the drive motor 10 is
transmitted to drive wheels 2 (2a, 2b) of the vehicle through a
reducer 1 so that the vehicle can run.
[0028] Incidentally, regarding temperature characteristics of a
battery, it is well known that the electrical power derived from
the battery is extremely reduced when the temperature of the
battery is not higher than 0.degree. C., for example. Therefore,
when the vehicle is restarted after long hours of rest at a place
where outdoor temperature is low, driving performance may
deteriorate because of a reduction of electrical power derived from
the battery. To meet such a problem, the motor ECU 12 includes a
computing unit that determines (corrects) the d-axis current value
for vector control in accordance with the output (battery
temperature value) of the battery temperature sensor 22.
[0029] FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts illustrating an arithmetic
processing operation of current control for the drive motor 10,
wherein FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an overview of the
arithmetic processing operation, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart
illustrating a part of the arithmetic processing operation, that
is, a motor current setup (current correction) process performed
when battery warm-up is required.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 2, first of all, the vehicle ECU 30
performs analog-to-digital conversion of an output signal from each
sensor and takes in information through the vehicle network at step
S101. Next, the vehicle ECU 30 calculates a torque command
(required drive torque) to be output from the drive motor 10 in
accordance with a value sensed by the accelerator pedal sensor 13
and the information acquired through the vehicle network at step
102. At step S103, the motor ECU 12 receives the required drive
torque (drive torque command) from the vehicle ECU 30 and
calculates the q-axis current value and d-axis current value for
vector control of the drive motor 10. Since a torque current
component is formed by the q-axis current, the d-axis current value
(magnetic flux component) to be calculated may be zero depending on
the operating conditions. Next, at step S104, the vehicle ECU30 or
the motor ECU 12 judges whether the battery needs to be warmed up.
When, for instance, the battery temperature acquired at step S101
is not higher than a predetermined value, battery warm-up is judged
at step S104 to be necessary, so that processing proceeds to step
S200. On the other hand, when the judgment result obtained at step
S104 indicates that battery warm-up is not required, processing
proceeds to step S105. At step S105, the drive motor 10 is
subjected to current control in accordance with the d-axis and
q-axis current values which were calculated earlier when battery
warm-up is not required. Upon completion of step S105, the process
terminates.
[0031] When processing proceeds to step S200 after battery warm-up
is judged at step S104 to be necessary, next steps indicated in the
flowchart of FIG. 3 are sequentially performed to correct the
d-axis and q-axis current values or at least the d-axis current
value which were set in step S103 by the motor ECU 12.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 3, at step S201, the motor ECU 12
calculates an amount of heat required for battery warm-up (a
required heat generation amount) Wr in accordance with a present
battery temperature. The required heat generation amount Wr is
determined by Equation (1) or Equation (2).
Wr=K.sub.1(T.sub.t-T.sub.b) (1)
Wr=K.sub.1(T.sub.t-T.sub.b)+K.sub.2 (T.sub.t-T.sub.0) (2)
where T.sub.b is the battery temperature, T.sub.t is a battery
target temperature, T.sub.0 is an outdoor air temperature, and
K.sub.1 and K.sub.2 are factors.
[0033] Next, at step S202, the motor ETC 12 calculates estimated a
self-heating amount We of the battery on condition that the drive
motor is driven by using the d-axis and q-axis currents set at step
S103. In other words, the estimated self-heating amount of the
battery is calculated in accordance with a motor power feed amount
based on the required drive torque of the drive motor. In general,
a battery since has an internal resistance Ri, when a current Ia is
output from the battery, a loss based on the internal resistance
turns out to be heat, and the temperature of the battery rises due
to its self-heating. Hence, the self-heating amount is determined
by Equation (3), which is based on Joule's law. In Equation (3), t
represents time.
We=Ia.sup.2Rit (3)
[0034] Next, at step S203, the motor ECU 12 compares between the
estimated self-heating amount We and the required heat generation
amount Wr which were calculated in steps S201 and S202. When the
self-heating amount We is equal to or greater than the required
heat generation amount Wr (Wr.ltoreq.We), the battery warm-up is
judged at step S203 to be unnecessary, so that such processes
finishes and then go on again. In this instance, the current
control at step S105 is executed by using the d-axis and q-axis
currents that have been determined at step S103 and not subjected
to battery warm-up correction.
[0035] Contrarily, at step S203, when the battery warm-up is judged
to be necessary (Wr>We), processing proceeds to step S204.
[0036] At step S204, the motor ECU 12 calculates a difference W
(=Wr-We) between the required heat generation amount and the
estimated self-heating amount, and then, at step S205, a target
total current Ia to be output from the battery is calculated in
accordance with the difference W. The target total current Ia is a
value obtained by Equation (4) taking the required drive torque of
the drive motor and battery warm-up into consideration.
Ia=K.sub.3(Wr-We) (4)
where K.sub.3 is a factor.
[0037] In accordance with the relationship between the d-axis
current id and the q-axis current iq which are used for vector
control, the target total current Ia is represented by
Ia.sup.2=id.sup.2+iq.sup.2. Details will be given later with
reference to FIG. 4. In step S206, the d-axis current value
(i.sub.d) is set from the target total current Ia by using, for
example, Equation (5). Upon completion of step S206, the process
terminates.
i.sub.d= {square root over (I.sub.a.sup.2-i.sub.q.sup.2)} (5)
[0038] The above d-axis current value is one determined when it is
subjected to battery warm-up correction.
[0039] The processes indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 are repeatedly
performed at predetermined intervals.
[0040] FIG. 4 schematically shows the d-axis and q-axis current
values for the required drive in relation to the target total
current Ia which is set in accordance with the battery
temperature.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 4, a vertical axis represents the target
total current Ia which is set depending on the battery temperature
T, and a horizontal axis represents the required drive torque D of
the drive motor. The battery temperature T may be determined by
taking the outdoor temperature into account. A symbol id represents
d-axis current characteristics that are executed when motor current
control (vector control) is executed in accordance with the present
embodiment, whereas the symbol iq represents q-axis current
characteristics. The relational expression indicating the
relationship between battery temperatures T1, T2, and T3, which are
indicated along the vertical axis, is T1>T2>T3. The
relational expression indicating the relationship between totak
currents Ia1, Ia2, and Ia3, which are determined at battery
temperatures T1, T2, and T2, respectively, is Ia1<Ia2<Ia3
during a battery warm-up operation. The battery temperature Tat
which battery warm-up is required is set in such a manner that the
target total current Ia increases with a decrease in the battery
temperature. The q-axis current value iq has linear characteristics
(iq=KqD where Kq is a factor) and changes in accordance with the
required drive torque D. On the other hand, the d-axis current
value id gradually decreases with an increase in the required drive
torque D (q-axis current value iq), as indicated by a curve (id=
(Ia.sup.2(KqD).sup.2)), due to the relationship between the target
total current Ia and the required drive torque D (q-axis current
value iq) (Ia.sup.2=iq.sup.2+id.sup.2). Required drive torques D1,
D2, and D3 (D1<D2<D3), which are indicated along the
horizontal axis, are required drive torques that implement the
battery warm-up operation by using only the q-axis current value
even at battery temperatures T1, T2, and T3.
[0042] For example, when the battery temperature is T1, the target
total current is set to Ia1. In this instance, the q-axis current
iq is set in accordance with the required drive torque D. Then,
d-axis current id1 is set in relation with the q-axis current iq.
In this instance, when the required drive torque is zero (the
vehicle is in a stopped state), the q-axis current value iq is
zero, the d-axis current id1 is set to target total current Ia1
(id1=Ia1). When the required drive torque D is greater than zero
and is smaller than the required drive torque D1, Equation (5) is
used to determine d-axis current id1 from the target total current
Ia1 and the q-axis current iq. When the battery temperature is
lower than T1, for example, equal to T2 or T3, the target total
current is set to Ia2 or Ia3 (Ia1<Ia2<Ia3). In this instance,
correction is made so that the d-axis current increases with a
decrease in the battery temperature even when the required drive
torque D (q-axis current value) remains unchanged. Further, when
the battery temperature T gradually rises during the battery
warm-up operation, an employed d-axis current value characteristic
curve id changes to a corresponding curve accordingly. For example,
when the battery temperature rises from T3 to T2, the d-axis
current value characteristic curve changes from id3 to id2.
[0043] That is, in the present embodiment, the motor ECU 12 as a
controller judges whether the battery warm-up is required and, when
the battery needs to be warmed up in situation (i) where the
vehicle is stopped, the motor ECU 12 sets the q-axis current value
iq to zero and sets a d-axis current value that permits the battery
warm-up operation. On the other hand, when the battery needs to be
warmed up in situation (ii) where the vehicle is running, the motor
ECU 12 sets the q-axis current value iq in accordance with the
drive torque D required for vehicle running and sets a d-axis
current value id that promotes the battery warm-up operation in
relation with the q-axis current value iq. In situations (i) and
(ii), the motor ECU 12 performs setup so that the d-axis current
value, which is included in the target total current Ia, increases
with a decrease in the battery temperature. Further, the motor ECU
12 performs setup so that the d-axis current value decreases with
an increase in the q-axis current value due to an increase in the
required drive torque.
[0044] As described above, the d-axis current and q-axis current
are since set in accordance with the required drive torque D of the
drive motor and the temperature of the battery 20, the d-axis
current value for vector control of the drive motor can be
corrected for battery warm-up no matter whether the vehicle is
stopped or running.
[0045] Consequently, the battery warm-up can be speeded up no
matter whether an electric vehicle is stopped or running.
[0046] Further, in the present embodiment, the motor ECU 12
increases or decreases the d-axis current for vector control for
correction purposes in accordance with the amount of heat required
for battery warm-up, which is determined from the battery
temperature, and the self-heating amount of the battery, which is
determined from a power feed amount for motor drive (mainly the
q-axis current for vector control). This makes it possible to
provide a motor control device that permits the vehicle to run
while conducting a battery warm-up operation with a high correction
accuracy of the d-axis current and reduces the length of battery
warm-up time in consideration of energy efficiency.
[0047] Furthermore, when a required heat generation amount can be
covered by the q-axis current alone, which is mainly related to the
driving force, the d-axis current does not flow. This makes it
possible to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
[0048] In the present embodiment, Equations (4) and (5) are
although used to set the target total current and d-axis current
for vector control, the target total current and d-axis current for
vector control can alternatively be determined by tabulating the
graph of FIG. 4, that is, by preparing a table that shows q-axis
and d-axis current value settings in relation to the required drive
torque and battery temperature as shown in FIG. 5. In this case, an
interpolation method based on an iq linear function and id curve
function can be additionally used as needed.
[0049] The present embodiment has been described on the assumption
that the present invention is applied to an electric vehicle.
However, the motor current control (d-axis current/q-axis current
control) executed during battery warm-up can also be applied to the
motor control device for a hybrid vehicle. In a hybrid vehicle
described in Patent Document 1, the current control for the warm-up
of the battery was previously executed by using the d-axis current
alone while operating the internal combustion engine. On the other
hand, according to the present embodiment, a hybrid vehicle motor
is since controlled during a battery warm-up operation by using the
configuration, flowcharts, and table shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 as
needed without the internal combustion engine operation, it is
possible to provide a vehicle capable of performing the battery
warm-up operation no matter whether it is stopped or running while
emitting no exhaust gas during a battery warm-up operation.
[0050] It should be noted that the following embodiments are also
applicable to both electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.
Second Embodiment
[0051] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle with
the motor control device according to a second embodiment of the
present invention. The second embodiment achieves the battery
warm-up by using not only the heat derived from the battery's
self-heating based on the d-axis and q-axis currents but also the
heat generated by the drive motor and inverter.
[0052] In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, elements designated by
the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 have the same
functions as the corresponding elements shown in FIG. 1 and will
not be redundantly described. In the second embodiment, the vehicle
shown in FIG. 1 includes the battery ECU 21, the motor ECU 12, and
the vehicle ECU 30, which are the same as the corresponding
elements used in the first embodiment.
[0053] The present embodiment warms up the battery 20 not only by
using the heat derived from the battery's self-heating based on the
d-axis and q-axis currents as is the case with the first
embodiment, but also by transferring the heat generated by the
drive motor 10 and inverter 11 to the battery 20 through cooling
water and air.
[0054] Hence, the vehicle according to the present embodiment
includes a cooling water circuit (cooling system) for cooling the
drive motor 10 and inverter 11 in addition to the elements shown in
FIG. 1. In FIG. 6, the cooling water circuit is indicated by a
broken line.
[0055] The cooling water circuit is a closed circuit in which
cooling water is circulated by a water pump 60. More specifically,
the water pump 60 feeds circulating cooling water to water jackets
in the inverter 11 and drive motor 10. The cooling water delivered
to the drive motor 10 passes through cooling water paths 101, 102
and flows into a radiator 61. The radiator 61 is a heat exchanger
that cools high-temperature cooling water. The cooling water
flowing in the radiator 61 is cooled by exchanging heat with
outside air. The cooling water flowing out of the radiator 61 flows
in a cooling water path 103.
[0056] A thermostat 62 is capable of switching from one flow path
to another depending on the temperature of the cooling water. When
the temperature of the cooling water is low, the thermostat 62
closes a radiator side cooling water path to let the cooling water
path 101 communicate with the cooling water path 103. This ensures
that no heat exchange occurs in the radiator 61. Therefore, when
battery warm-up is required, the cooling water temperature can be
raised immediately.
[0057] The cooling water flowing in the cooling water path 103
passes through a cooling water path 104 and then returns to the
water pump 60 through a heater core 64.
[0058] The heater core 64 is a heat exchanger similar to the one
included in the radiator 61. A blower fan 67 supplies air so that
the heat of the cooling water is transferred to a vehicle interior
through air and used as a heat source for heating the vehicle
interior.
[0059] A flow path switching valve 66 switches between the cooling
water path 104 and a cooling water path 105 in accordance with a
signal of a temperature control unit 50. Therefore, when the
vehicle interior needs to be heated while the temperature of the
cooling water is low, the flow path switching valve 66 closes the
cooling water path to the heater core 64 for the purposes of
raising the temperature of the cooling water and preventing cool
air from being unnecessarily supplied to the vehicle interior.
[0060] The heater core 64 is placed inside a vehicle
air-conditioner which is placed in the vehicle interior and not
shown in the figure, and disposed downstream of an evaporator 65 in
terms of the flow of air supplied from the blower fan 67.
[0061] The temperature control unit 50 is an electronic control
unit that provides temperature control of the cooling water and
vehicle interior. The temperature control unit 50 takes in a signal
from a cooling water temperature sensor 42 which senses the
temperature of the cooling water, and a signal from a vehicle
interior temperature sensor 41 which senses the temperature of the
vehicle interior. Further, the temperature control unit 50 outputs
actuation signals to the water pump 60, flow path switching valve
66, and blower fan 67 for the purpose of controlling the cooling
water temperature in accordance with temperature signals, such as
cooling water temperature, vehicle interior temperature, and
outdoor temperature signals, and with a signal supplied from the
vehicle ECU 30.
[0062] The batter blower fan 23 can transfer the heat of the
cooling water to the battery 20 through air.
[0063] In the present embodiment, vector control of the drive motor
10 is also basically executed as indicated in the flowcharts of
FIGS. 3 and 4. However, vector control provided by the present
embodiment is slightly different from vector control provided by
the first embodiment. At step 5202 for current correction
processing, which is indicated in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the
first embodiment determines the estimated heat generation amount We
from the battery's self-heating amount. On the other hand, the
present embodiment takes into account the heat generated by the
drive motor 10 and inverter 11 in addition to the estimated heat
generation amount We based on the battery's self-heating amount,
and corrects the d-axis current value by performing processing as
indicated in the flowchart of FIG. 3 although the employed
configuration is specific to the present embodiment.
[0064] More specifically, when battery warm-up is judged to be
required as is the case with the first embodiment, the present
embodiment calculates the required heat amount Wr required for
battery warm-up in accordance with the output of the battery
temperature sensor 22, calculates the battery's estimated
self-heating amount We in accordance with the motor power feed
amount based on the required drive torque of the drive motor, and
calculates the amount Wh of heat to be supplied to the battery 20
by a heat supplier (drive motor and inverter cooling water system).
When the required heat amount Wr is larger than the sum of the
estimated self-heating amount We and the heat supply amount Wh, the
present embodiment increases the d-axis current value for vector
control for correction purposes in accordance with a difference
between the required heat amount Wr and the sum of the estimated
self-heating amount We and the heat supply amount Wh.
[0065] The second embodiment is configured so that the heat
generated by the battery's self-heating and the heat generated by
the drive motor 10 and inverter 11 can be both used as a heat
source for battery warm-up. This makes it possible to provide an
enhanced battery warm-up capability. Further, the amount of power
consumption through the use of the d-axis current can be reduced by
using the heat of the cooling water. Moreover, when the heat
generated from the drive motor and inverter is recovered and used
for battery warm-up, the battery warm-up operation can be performed
with increased efficiency because the d-axis current is controlled
in accordance with the amount of heat generated from the drive
motor and inverter.
[0066] Particularly, the drive motor judges, in accordance with the
amount of heat remaining in an exhaust heat recovery unit (cooling
water system) of the inverter, whether or not to conduct the
battery warm-up operation by using the d-axis current. This makes
it possible to reduce unnecessary energy consumption, for instance,
during a restart.
Third Embodiment
[0067] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating motor current control
executed during a battery warm-up operation for a vehicle applied
to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0068] The vehicle according to the third embodiment has the same
configuration as the vehicle according to the first embodiment. As
is the case with the first embodiment, the third embodiment
executes d-axis current control and q-axis current control during a
battery warm-up operation in accordance with the battery
temperature and the required drive torque signal. However, the
third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, while
the vehicle is stopped, the motor ECU 12 executes a battery warm-up
operation by using the d-axis current without reducing the q-axis
current to zero so as to set the q-axis current value corresponding
to a drive torque for allowing the vehicle to creep operation with
assumption that the brake is released.
[0069] The above-mentioned motor control will now be described with
reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7. In the flowchart of FIG. 7,
steps designated by the same step numbers as in the flowchart of
FIG. 3 will not be redundantly described because they relate to a
process in which the same function is executed as in the flowchart
of FIG. 3.
[0070] Regarding a conventional hybrid vehicle or electric vehicle,
when the vehicle is stopped and a brake pedal is depressed, its
engine and drive motor is set to stop to reduce energy consumption.
Contrarily, when an accelerator pedal and the brake pedal are both
released, a predetermined driving force (required drive torque) is
generated to let the vehicle creep. In other words, when the brake
pedal is depressed while the vehicle is stopped, the electric power
consumption of the drive motor 10 and inverter 11 is reduced,
consequently, the amount of heat generated by the self-heating of
the battery 20 decreases.
[0071] Meanwhile, according to the present embodiment, as shown in
the flowchart of FIG. 7, when the battery warm-up is required and
calculation process of the target total current has been executed
in a not-yet-warm-up state at steps S201 to S205, a step S207 is
subsequently executed to judge in accordance with a signal of the
brake pedal sensor 14 (see FIG. 1) whether the brake pedal is
depressed while the vehicle is stopped. The vehicle ECU 30 takes in
information about a vehicle stop state from both information
indicating that the depression amount of the accelerator pedal 13
shown in FIG. 1 is zero and information indicating that the speed
is zero which is generated by the wheel speed sensor 15. When the
judgment result obtained in step S207 does not indicate that the
brake pedal is depressed while the vehicle is stopped, only the
d-axis current is corrected as is the case with the process
indicated in FIG. 3, and then the process terminates. On the other
hand, the judgment result obtained in step S207 indicates that the
brake pedal is depressed while the vehicle is stopped, the relevant
information is conveyed to the motor ECU 12. The motor ECU 12 then
sets a q-axis current corresponding to the drive torque for
creeping, corrects the d-axis current value in step S206 in
accordance with Equation (5), and terminates the process.
[0072] As described above, when the brake is depressed by a driver
of the vehicle while the vehicle is stopped, the motor ECU 12 sets
a q-axis current that outputs a drive torque to let the vehicle
creep when the brake is released, and allows the d-axis current to
flow for promoting the battery warm-up operation. This makes it
possible to immediately warm-up the battery 20. The present
embodiment also provides the following advantages.
[0073] At a low temperature at which battery warm-up is required,
the discharge performance of the battery is not fully delivered,
and the instantaneous force of the battery (the amount of current
capable of being extracted instantaneously) is weaker than that at
an appropriate temperature. Therefore, when, for instance, the
brake is depressed to stop the vehicle and then the brake is
released to depress the accelerator for acceleration, it takes a
certain amount of time to extract a necessary amount of current, so
that a sluggish acceleration feel may result. To meet such a
problem, the present embodiment since previously generates a
predetermined driving force (the required drive torque for allowing
the vehicle to creep) during the vehicle is stopped while
depressing the brake, in a situation where battery warm-up is
required and when the brake is released to depress the accelerator,
it is possible to avoid a sluggish acceleration feel and accomplish
battery warm-up promptly.
[0074] In the above-described embodiments, the d-axis and q-axis
current values, which are to be set by a current correction unit,
are calculated in accordance with the self-heating amount of the
battery 20 and the required heat amount required for battery
warm-up. From the viewpoint of vehicle protection and device
protection, however, corrections may be made in accordance, for
instance, with the battery's state of charge (SOC) and state of
health (SOH). Further, if an excessive amount of current is
extracted for self-heating of the battery, the battery may
deteriorate. Therefore, the amount of current to be extracted may
be limited to avoid such a problem.
* * * * *